After 90 years in the first clues to heroes who died mass war graves, our Great War for their country.

Byline: Helen Thomas

THEY fought and died for their country more than 90 years ago but now these brave Coventry and Warwickshire men may finally be properly laid to rest.

Their names are included in a list of soldiers whose remains have possibly been discovered in a mass grave found in Fromelles, in northern France.

The discovery of five burial pits was made in May last year. They have been undisturbed since the First World War but are thought to contain the remains of up to 400 British and Australian soldiers, believed to have been buried by German troops after the Battle of Fromelles in July 1916.

The Commonwealth War Grave Commission (CWGC) has begun the task of trying to identify some of the dead and has published a list of names of soldiers it believes may have been buried at the site. Work has started to recover the remains so they can be properly buried with a commemorative ceremony in a new cemetery. It is hoped DNA testing will lead to living relatives of some of the soldiers.

After seeing the list of names published by the CWGC Coventry historian and author Trevor Harkin, of Earlsdon, matched up the local soldiers with his own detailed research.

The 37-year-old, who lives with his wife and two children, has already published four books about soldiers from the city, including a study of the memorial plaques in War Memorial Park.

He said: "I started the War Memorial project a few years ago and I researched the plaques in the park. I went through a lot of local papers and printed off details about the soldiers.

"What I've done since then is collaborate lots of information about soldiers from Coventry so when this list was published it was a case of checking them with my own database. I've been working with the Commonwealth War Grave Commission and they've sent me information.

The photographs were all printed in local newspapers at the time. It makes these people much more real when you see pictures of them." One of the reasons Trevor became interested in the First World War is because after researching his family history he found three of his grandmother's uncles had died in the conflict.

He said: "Their bodies were never found. It would be a very emotional thing for someone to be DNA-matched to one of these dead soldiers."

Almost 3,000 men from Coventry were killed during the First World War.

As well as the Coventry and Bedworth men researched by Trevor there are also several others on the CWGC list from Warwickshire who may also have been buried in the mass graves in Fromelles. These are: From the Royal Warwickshire Regiment 2nd/7th battalion - Privates William Henry Barnett, of Warwick, Harry Beckett, of Stratford, Frank Hinde Hayes, of Rugby, and Albert Beesley, of Stratford, Sergeants

Albert James Blakemore, of Warwick, and William Harvey White, of Rugby, and Corporal Harold Moore, of Nuneaton. From the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, 2nd/1st Bucks battalion - Private George Alfred Castle, of Warwick. Anyone who believes they may be related to one of the soldiers on the list should contact Historic Casualty Casework, Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre, Service Personnel and Veterans Agency, Imjin Barracks, Gloucester GL3 1HW, phone [phone] extension 6303 or 7330 or email S P VA - J C C C - f r o m e l l e s - [e-mail].

uk The full list can be seen by following the links on the website www.cwgc.org MORE than 7,000 British and Australian soldiers perished or were seriously wounded in the assault in Fromelles on July 19, 1916. The aim of the attack was to divert German attention from fighting at the Somme, 50 miles away. The Australians saw 5,533 men killed, wounded or missing while the British dead and casualties numbered 1,547. An entry in The War Diary for the 2nd/7th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, by Lieutenant Crombie on the day of the attack, reads: "Germans have manned their front line trenches and those who went over first are no more"

. More local soldiers who may be buried at site Other soldiers from Coventry include: Private Stephen Barnett was killed in action aged 36. He was born on the February 8, 1880 in Coventry with his parents living in Cox Street. Stephen was employed as a brazier. Private Thomas Henry Desborough, of D Company, worked as a labourer and is commemorated on the Illife and Sons Ltd Memorial. He was born on the September 12 1885 in Coventry and was killed in action aged 21. Corporal Absalom Goode enlisted in January, 1915 and lived at 609 Foleshill Road working locally as a Artificial Silk Spinner. He was born on the May 19, 1891 in Birmingham. Private

Thomas Moore was born on the March 29, 1890 at the back of 35 Well Street, Coventry. He enlisted in Coventry in November, 1914. Private Alexander Grant Neale enlisted in Coventry and was a resident of Bedworth with his name recorded on the Bedworth War Memorial. Lance Corporal Sidney Sheffield, of B Company was 24. He was the son of Walter John and Mary Ann Sheffield, of 13 Stoke Row, Coventry. He was born on March 18, 1892 in Foleshill Road. He enlisted November, 1915. Private Thomas Tallis, 4233, aged 19 was the son of Zilla and Harry Tallis, of 118 Coventry Rd., Bedworth where he also lived. Thomas enlisted in Coventry and is commemorated on the Bedworth War Memorial. Private Aubrey Topp died while a prisoner of war. Private Tom Whitcroft, enlisted in Coventry and lived in Bedworth. Tom's name is recorded in on the Bedworth War Memorial.

Fromelles: The facts

CAPTION(S):

Private Joseph Farren - born on March 18, 1896 in London but worked in Coventry as a machinist until enlisting in 1914. Private Leonard Twamley died aged 21. He was the son of Mrs Twamley, of 52, Godiva St, Coventr y. Private James Ayres Hazelwood lived in Coventry working as a turner until enlisting in 1914. He was born December 15, 1878. Private Herbert Benjamin Sheppard was born on June 7 1898 in Spon End. His father lived at 18 Stockton Rd., Coventry. Corporal Herbert Stanway enlisted at the outbreak of war, a Scot, he lived at 36 Sherbourne Street, Coventry. Private George Albert Taylor died as a PoW, aged 20. Parents William and Margaret Taylor, lived in Huntingdon Rd, Earlsdon. Private Henry Barlow died aged 20. He lived at 24 Co-Operative Street, Alderman's Green. Private Harold Bates, originally from Bedworth, lived at 127 Corporation Cottages, Holbrook Lane. He died at the age of 27. Lance Corporal Alfred Chatwin died aged 20. He was born and lived in Leicester Street, Coventry and worked as an enameller. Private Alfred Lamb was reported dying while a PoW, aged 19. His parents Arthur and Ann Lamb lived at 24 Russell Street, Coventry Private Albert Portman was killed in action, aged 19. His parents George and Jane lived at 56 Little Park Street, Coventry. Captain Thomas Henry Bethell died at the age of 31. His parents Thomas and Annie lived at 5 The Quadrant, Coventry. Thomas was born on the January 24, 1885 at Coventry and lived in the city practising as a barrister. Sgt Christopher Bailey was the son of George and Caroline Bailey and was married to Flora. He was born on the March 2, 1890. Private Harry Austin - appeals were made for information by a Mrs. F. Smith, 51 Cromwell Street, Red Lane, Coventry. Private John Alfred Clarke was employed at the Deasy Motor Works and died at the age of 36. L/Cpl Henry Charles Davenport, 3492 C Company - reported to have died as a PoW. Parents John and Hannah lived in Stoke. Private Frederick Townley was born in Hook Norton, Oxon and lived in Foleshill.